Abstract

Group cooperation is the foundation of human society. If humans were unable to divide labor in a manner that considers the physical and emotional limitations and strengths of each individual, while still aligning with group objectives, they would have faced greater challenges in surviving. In the present study, I proposed that humans have evolved psychological mechanisms that enable them to express empathy towards one another through the way they distribute and perform labor during physical group tasks. Moreover, I suggested that these displays of empathy from individuals amplify the empathetic response experienced by others within the group. Additionally, I noted that the physical difficulty of the tasks would further magnify these responses. To test these hypotheses, I employed a design that simulated group labor conditions in a controlled setting. I manipulated the level of physical strain the participants experienced during the labor task. I also manipulated whether participants could divide their labor organically, or if they were required to all complete the same amount of physical work in less-natural scenarios. The task manipulations had a significant interaction for Situational Empathy, such that the participants in the High Strain groups scored significantly higher than those in the Low Strain groups for the Yes DOL conditions where the participants organically divided their labor, and the participants in the No DOL groups where participants were required to participate equally in the task scored significantly higher than the Yes DOL groups for the Low Strain conditions. There were also significant differences across the manipulations for Group Cohesion, such that for participants in the High Strain conditions, the Yes DOL groups scored significantly higher on Group Cohesion than the No DOL groups. Both Group Cohesion and Situational Empathy exhibited crossover effects, such that in the Yes DOL conditions, the High Strain groups yielded higher scores than the Low Strain groups, and in the No DOL conditions, the Low Strain groups yielded higher scores than the High Strain groups. This suggests a link between group cohesion and empathy, and supports previous research that suggests that these variables may be reflective of a common, higher order construct (Johnson et al. 2005). The present study offers implications for understanding the role of empathy in human social and organizational behavior, as the findings suggest that Situational Empathy and Group Cohesion are influenced by both physical strain and work division schemes. The study also highlights the potential of empathy-based approaches for improving group outcomes in schools, group therapy settings, or workplaces.

Advisor

Foster, Nathan

Department

Psychology

Disciplines

Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Keywords

empathy, group cohesion, entitativity, group labor, work division schemes, group cooperation, embodied cognition

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 Jasper H. Stoddard